Counseling 12: Personal Growth and Development
UJIMA UC-1
Course Syllabus (Fall ‘11)
Instructor: Gena Lopez M.S.
Time: 9:00AM-12:20PM
Dates: September 2-December 16
Email: gllopez@pasadena.edu
Phone: (626) 585-7091
Location: CC-233
Course description:
A comprehensive course that integrates personal and professional growth through the development of effective
communication skills, positive self-image and self-esteem, and strategies for problem solving and decisionmaking. Analysis of life course events, such as the development of career and educational objectives.
Emphasis is on personal health assessment and strategies for coping with stress.
Outcomes: At the end of the course the student should be able to:
*Distinguish between positive and negative individual characteristics that impact personal, academic and professional
success. (Institutional SLO-Cognition, Communication & Personal Development)
*Apply successful strategies for decision making to thrive in personal, academic and professional situations.
(Institutional SLO-Cognition)
*Apply successful goal setting and action planning strategies to excel in personal, academic and professional situations.
(Institutional SLO-Cognition)
*Identify behaviors that undermine personal health and develop an action plan for improvement and maximize wellbeing. (Institutional SLO-Cognition & Personal Development)
Methods of instruction (may include one or more of the following):
 Lecture/Guest speakers
 Group activities
 Field trips
Course Rules for Success:
 Show up! To support my success, I choose to attend every scheduled class period in its entirety. Any
student with more than 3 absences will be dropped. (3 tardies equal one absence per the college catalog)
 Do the Work! To support my success, I choose to do my very best work in preparing all of my assignments
and hand them in on time.
 Participate actively! To support my success, I choose to stay mentally alert in every class, offering my best
comments, questions, and answers when appropriate.
Required materials:
 I Never Knew I Had A Choice, Corey
 Loose leaf paper for journal entries and a 3-ring binder
Grading:
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Quizzes (3 at 15 points each)
Group project
Class Participation
Success Journals (8 at 5 points each)
Midterm
45 pts.
100 pts
50 pts.
40 pts.
65 pts.
300 total possible points
Important Note: All 10 success journals should be completed to be successful in the course.
1. 3 Quizes (45 possible points)
This is a course for students who want to be successful in college and in life. One of the most important factors of
success in any endeavor is consistent and active participation. To encourage and reward your preparation for active
participation in every class, 3 quizzes on the readings will be given. If you have read each assignment and
completed your journal entries, you should have no trouble earning the maximum points (15) for each quiz. Quizes
may be made up only with instructor approval.
Great success is created one small step at a time. Each time you earn your quiz points you take an important step
toward your success in this course…and in life!
2. Group presentations (100 points possible)
You will be divided into groups to complete a project. More information will be distributed later.
3. Success journals (5 points ea. -40 possible total points)
The journal entries allow you to experiment and explore your thoughts and feelings concerning the success
strategies in the textbook. Although I will be collecting your journals and looking through them, write your journal
for yourself, not for me.
In addition to the journal entries from the textbook, you will complete some entries in class. THEREFORE, BRING
YOUR TEXTBOOK AND BINDER TO EVERY CLASS MEETING.
The criteria for awarding points for journal entries are as follows:
1) The entry is complete (all steps in the directions have been responded to), and
2) The entry is written with high standards (an obvious attempt has been made to dive deep).
Grammar, spelling and punctuation will NOT be factors in awarding points in this journal. You are free to express
yourself without concern for Standard English conventions. It must be clear to ME and legible.
Note: Late journals will be accepted but will lose one point for each day they are late. All journals should be
completed.
4. Midterm (65 Points possible)-Further information will be distributed later in the semester.
**This syllabus is subject to change without prior notice.